St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-03-10

OChS.- lie uCdJIl VI ID.
Mattocks of Lyndon, Feb. %, at the
age OF "a, was noted last week. From
a memorial sermon preached last Sun
day By his pastor, Rev. George w.
Kelley. from Ps. cxii %, the following
extracts are taken:
Samuel Buckley Mattocks was born
December IA, 1902, at Middlebury, VT,
and was the third child of Samuel Mat
tocks, Jr., and Lucy Sage Smith. The
founder of the family in this country
was James MattOcks of Totness, county
of Devonshire, England, one of the
early settlers of Boston who arrived
there about 1854. Subsequently mem
bers or branches of the family settled
in Connecticut and in this state.
Samuel Buckley fitted for college at
the Addison county grammar school,
entered Middlebnry college at the ear
ly age of IA and was graduated i'll the
year 1921. On his graduation he had
serious thoughts of entering the min
istry and his friends encouraged him
to do SO. But upon mature cOnsidera-
| ton he gave up the idea and turned
] his ssst<ntion to legal pursuits. Hav-.
ing at length, after some experience in
| OoHCi UhSO1ioho
on course of study of law during
which occupation he was in the offices
of William MattOcks and George B.
Shaw at Danville, he was admitted to
the bar in 1896. Earnestly, yet with
growing distaste he practiced his pro-
fessiOn until March 1882 in Danville,
VT. In 1888 he began what proved to
be his life long business that of bank
| ing. He was appointed cashier of the
bank of Caledonia, Danville, in Feb
ruary of that year. He remained there
four years. He then resigned his
| place and was out of that business for
a few years. In 1913 he was again ap
pointed to the place and held it until
1856. In that year he came to Lyndon
to take charge of the bank. He was
cashier until Jan. 10, 1874, and then
resigned and retired to private life.
AS ii bank officer he was capable, pop
ular, and greatly trusted by the bank
and the community generally. He was
cOnscientiOusly faithful, was scrupu-
lousy honest, and the bank prospered
largely under him. He gave himself
entirely to the business of the bank
during all his long connection with it.
While in charge of the bank ut Dan
vile he was also called to fill many
town offices and to be even more prom
inently in public life. From 1926 to
1S40 he was never without an Office of
some kind and often was incumbent of
several offices. He was a favorite can
didate for register, judge of probate,
county clerk, state representative and
state senator. The duties and trusts
of all the offices he probably filled with
satisfaction to his clients and cOnstitu-
ents. He never desperately sought of
fee, but it is likely that any Office in
the town or state even would have
been open to him had he wished and
pushed it. When the Office sought him
he accepted it and filled it honestly and
| with success.
Mr.. Mattocks was married Dec. 6,
| 1927, to Harriet Choate, daughter of
Jacob and ROsamOnd ChOate of Dan
Vile. Six children were the fruit of
this marriage all of whom were born
before he came to this town. Five are
surviving, all married with one except
| ion, and all settled in or near the same
town where he passed the last thirty
years of his life and where he is
now buried. The death of his wife
Il number of years since was severe
atfiictiOn to him and he had been called
upon to part grievOusly with one of
his children. His deafness also became
nearly total before he passed away.
| Up to the last four or five years of his
| life his general health remained good.
| Considering his extreme age and that
he had only one serious sickness during
his long residence here his vigOr was
remarkable and sustained him until
nature fairly yielded to mortal decay.
For fifty years at least he was the
strength and support, the refuge and
encouragement, of his family. He
loved his home with a peculiar affec-
ton and as long as he was able to do
so lavished himself and his substance
upon his children. On the whole,
though there were some things to sad
den him, he was hopeful and happy in
his declining days. He lived to the
last in the house where he wished to
finish his days. He was carefully and
kindly watched over by his sons and
daughters, who were in the house with
him or close at hand. His grandchild-
rem were perpetual comfort and de-
| light to him. He felt his end APP
preaching and welcomed it. He pass
ed away without pain and in peace.
Mr.. MattOcks became a Christian
while young man and sustained his
profession of faith honOrably for 60 or
more years. He followed the old way
of belief; no new departures had any
attraction for him. He walked worthy
of his vocation. In all the business
matters of the church his Judgment had
much weight and his advice was gen.
orally sought and followed. He was Il
liberal and cheerful eiver. Mr.. Mat
tOcks filled various offices i'm cOnnec-
ton with the church and from 1872
until his death was one of its deacons,
though unable during the last years of
his life to take an active part in it's af
fairs. His was an attractive character.
Without great worldly ambition he
was still jealous for good name and
an honorable place among men. With
more than an ordinary intellectual
equipment, literally educated, capable
of filling large place in public life, he
chose an important but quiet and plod
ding business life and filled his posi-
ton faithfully until past three score
years and ten. He might have been
rich but he preferred to follow the in
| stincts of his heart and live for others
I